If you have granite countertops in your kitchen, then chances are you consider those kitchen countertops in Northern Minnesota to be both an investment and a point of pride in your home. After all, granite sends a message that you have good taste, and is strong and classic enough to hold up through several decades.

But what happens when you notice a crack in your granite countertops? It would be understandable if you felt distraught upon first seeing the crack—after all, granite countertops are expensive, and cracks might seem irreparable at first glance.

But you don’t have to give up on having beautiful kitchen countertops in Northern Minnesota! Here is an overview on cracks and fissures in granite, and how they can be fixed.

Crack or fissure?

Here’s the thing: that crack you notice in your granite countertop might not be a crack at all. It might be a fissure.

Fissures are naturally occurring fractures in rock, and typically will not look as severe as a crack. It is also easy to tell if you are dealing with a crack or a fissure based on touch. Fissures will usually feel smooth to the touch, while cracks will be noticeably jagged.

Rather than being naturally occurring like a fissure, a crack will probably appear in a high-stress area for your countertop—perhaps in a spot where you often place a heavy appliance, or where the refrigerator door hits the counter when opened too quickly.

Both cracks and fissures can be fixed, but some people choose to keep the natural look of their fissures, rather than repair them.

Home solutions

Fortunately for homeowners, there are many over-the-counter products designed to help you quickly and easily repair a small crack or fissure in your granite countertops.

These products include both epoxy and fill kits. There are several different name brands out there, meaning it can be difficult to choose the right product. We recommend going to your local hardware store and asking an experienced professional which item will work best for fixing your crack or fissure.

Whichever brand you pick, these products are typically designed to be quick, user-friendly and affordable. That’s good news for anyone hoping to fix their granite during a weekend afternoon!

Trust a professional

If you are dealing with a relatively small crack or fissure, then the over-the-counter products we mentioned above will probably do the job in terms of fixing up the cracks or fissures in your countertops.

But if you have a seriously large crack, or several smaller ones all over your counters, then it may be time to call in a professional. If you don’t know what you are doing, attempting to use DIY products to fix large cracks might just cause more damage to your granite surface.

If you need a professional surface to address the cracks in your kitchen countertops in Northern Minnesota, we hope you will get in touch with L & L Granite Countertops. We look forward to hearing from you!